The SBIR program is up for reauthorization in Congress.  Those that follow these kinds of things have been very concerned about what might happen with reauthorization.  I don't get overly excited, but I DO think the time has come for me to ask you to write your congressmen.

My big concern is that Congress is considering allowing small businesses who are majority owned by venture capital (VC) groups to be eligible for this program.  The problem is that we don't have that much VC money in Nebraska, so I think it will further disadvantage businesses here.

Apparently two committees in the House of Representatives are moving forward to try and reauthorize SBIR.  One of the committees is the House committee on Small Business and Nebraska congressman Jeff Fortenberry is a member.  I contacted his office last week but didn't yet receive a reply.  (Of course, I live in Omaha and he is not MY congressman.)

It's really time for you to write a quick note, send a fax, or give a call to your congressman and our two senators.  Tell them that you use or plan to use the SBIR program.  Explain how it's helped your business.  Ask them to continue to support it and its mission to provide critical research funding to SMALL BUSINESSES.

You can send a "canned" e-mail from the National Small Business Association's website,http://capwiz.com/nsbaonline/issues/alert/?alertid=10940346&PROCESS=Take+Action.  They have a form with suggested text.  You fill in your contact info and it automatically sends an e-mail to your congressman and senators.  Their text is just asking Congress to reauthorize SBIR, though.  Please include something about how you've used the program or plan to use it.  Also, if you are against opening this program up to VC concerns, please tell them that as well.  If you want to call or fax the congressmen, get their info from http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi-bin/newseek.cgi?site=ctc&state=ne.

More information on the SBIR bill can be found at, http://www.zyn.com/sbir/insider/.  There are several articles there.  Also, the Small Business Technology Council's website, http://www.sbtc.org/ has several articles.